Fact Check: "A jury found Trump liable in 2023 for battery and defamation in the 1990s."
What We Know
In May 2023, a federal jury found former President Donald Trump liable for battery and defamation in a civil lawsuit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. The jury concluded that Trump sexually abused Carroll in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s and subsequently defamed her by denying her allegations. Carroll was awarded a total of $5 million in damages, which included $2 million for battery and $2.7 million for defamation, along with additional punitive damages (NPR, Wikipedia).
The jury's decision was based on Carroll's testimony and corroborating evidence, which included statements from friends to whom she disclosed the incident shortly after it occurred. The jury did not find Trump liable for rape, but they did find that he had sexually abused Carroll, which falls under the legal definition of battery in New York law (NPR, Wikipedia).
Analysis
The claim that a jury found Trump liable for battery and defamation in 2023 is supported by multiple credible sources. NPR reported the jury's unanimous decision after only three hours of deliberation, highlighting the swift nature of their conclusion (NPR). The verdict was the result of a civil trial, where the burden of proof is lower than in criminal cases, requiring only a "preponderance of the evidence" rather than proof "beyond a reasonable doubt" (NPR).
The case has been widely covered in the media, including outlets like CNN and The Hill, which confirm the jury's findings and the nature of the claims against Trump (CNN, The Hill). The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations with a history of fact-checking and journalistic integrity.
However, Trump's legal team has expressed skepticism about the fairness of the trial, arguing that the jury's decision was perplexing given the lack of a specific date for the alleged incident (NPR). This defense strategy aimed to cast doubt on Carroll's credibility, but the jury ultimately sided with her narrative.
Conclusion
The claim that a jury found Trump liable for battery and defamation in 2023 is True. The evidence presented during the trial, including Carroll's testimony and corroborating statements from her friends, led to the jury's conclusion that Trump sexually abused her and subsequently defamed her. The verdict is significant as it marks a legal acknowledgment of Carroll's claims against Trump, despite his ongoing denials and intentions to appeal the decision.
Sources
- Trump found liable for battery, defamation against E. Jean Carroll - NPR
- E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump - Wikipedia
- Appeals court won't re-hear Trump's challenge to $5M judgment - ABC News
- Read the full Trump-E. Jean Carroll verdict text here - CBS News
- Appeals court rejects Trump's bid to challenge $5 million E. Jean Carroll judgment - Good Morning America
- Jury finds Donald Trump sexually abused E. Jean Carroll in civil case - CNN
- Donald Trump Suffers Legal Blow in E. Jean Carroll Case - Newsweek
- Trump found liable for sexual battery, defamation in E. Jean Carroll trial - The Hill
